Ukrainian refugees on SNP ferry have endured tiny cabins, visa woes crew since JULY 

Terrified refugees who fled to Scotland to escape the war in Ukraine have complained they are being kept on a boat with Russian-speaking crew.

Ukrainian families who escaped Russia’s deadly invasion of their country have been housed on a cruise ship docked in Edinburgh since July.

But a lack of housing in the city means they are trapped aboard the MS Victoria, where a variety of problems have been reported to the council.

Complaints also include cramped conditions and difficulty accessing benefits, bus passes, onward accommodation, visas and biometric residency cards.

Internet bandwidth, access to vehicle parking and using the ship as proof of address have also posed problems, a freedom of information request to City of Edinburgh Council revealed.

Internet bandwidth, access to vehicle parking and using the ship as proof of address have also posed problems, a freedom of information request to City of Edinburgh Council revealed

Meanwhile, families have had difficulty with aspects of their children’s education such as school placing requests, transport, access to related benefits, as well as difficulties with the provision of lessons in English for Speakers of Other Languages.

Up to 1,700 refugees have been housed on the ship for several months, but there are concerns whether it is suitable for such lengthy habitation.

Scottish Tory social justice spokesman Miles Briggs said: ‘It’s little wonder frustration is growing among Ukrainian refugees after being left in limbo on a cruise ship for several months. The SNP Government must up their game and finally find them the permanent accommodation they need and deserve.’

Earlier this year, humanitarian expert Dr Jim Jarvie pointed out the 739-cabin vessel was not using standards set by humanitarian organisation Sphere.

Nearly 22,0000 refugees have arrived from Ukraine on a Scottish visa. Scottish Government figures show 4,756 are living in hotel rooms and 2,442 are on ships docked in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Only 5,737 have been found long-term housing by the Scottish Government, which said it is likely many will have made their own arrangements.

Labour’s external affairs spokesman Sarah Boyack said: ‘These worrying reports raise fresh questions about the SNP’s scandalous failure to deliver housing for refugees.’

She added: ‘They [the Scottish Government] urgently need to set out a real long-term plan to make sure local communities are equipped to welcome Ukrainians building a life here.’

Scottish Tory social justice spokesman Miles Briggs said: ‘It’s little wonder frustration is growing among Ukrainian refugees after being left in limbo on a cruise ship for several months’

Meanwhile, 2,500 host homes have yet to be inspected, official statistics show. Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: ‘People across Scotland have opened up their arms in a collective gesture of generosity to welcome those fleeing war.

‘The Scottish Government need to back up that generosity with the necessary legwork.’

Criticising the ‘glacial’ progress, he added: ‘At this virtually negligible rate, many Ukrainians could face years on board a cruise ship or in a hotel room.’

City of Edinburgh Council said none of the issues raised by Ukrainians on the MS Victoria had been lodged as ‘formal complaints’, with the refugees said to have raised their ‘concerns’ with other relevant organisations and agencies.

The Scottish Government said up to £50million has been allocated to increase the available housing supply.

A spokesman said: ‘The Scottish Government is providing temporary accommodation that is safe and sustainable until people can be matched to suitable longer term accommodation. We do not want anyone to spend any more time than necessary in temporary accommodation.

‘Significant action is under way to boost matching to maximise the number of people who can be placed with volunteer hosts who have completed the necessary checks.’